South Florida Law Blog

Monthly Archives: March 2011

After a few years of torrential storms blowing against the housing market, residential real estate in the Sunshine State is breaking through the dark clouds. Although the forecast calls for scattered rain showers in 2011, the media is starting to report rays of light that signal a recovery. Consumers are definitely shopping—and they are buying even if it is for […]

I’m sorry, is this 1811 or 2011? Back in the day, say the 1800’s, the use of debtor’s prisons was widespread; signatories to the Declaration of Independence, James Wilson and Robert Morris were both later incarcerated, as were 2,000 New Yorkers annually by 1816. Henry Lee III, better known as Light-Horse Harry Lee, a Revolutionary War general, former governor of […]

Foreclosures are back… just like Freddy Krueger. Just like in the horror films when things start to calm down and get back to normal… out pops Freddy Krueger again to scare the living daylights out of you. Well, that seems to be the case here in Florida as it relates to real estate and foreclosures. The news this past week […]

What do hyenas, wolves and hippos have in common with foreclosure mills? Upon learning this week that David Stern’s foreclosure mill decided to sue GMAC as well as some other former clients, the only fitting analogy for such backlash and conduct would be to compare it to species known for eating their young. In fact, it’s not just Stern’s office […]

Black hat foreclosure has been an accepted practice since 2006? Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. As Florida’s top prosecutor continues to investigate the state’s law firms for improper foreclosure work, a report has surfaced showing Fannie Mae was warned in 2006 of abuses in the way lenders and their law firms handled foreclosures, according to the Wall Street Journal. The fraud-closure problem […]

Broward County homeowners now face an additional hurdle when trying to complete a loan modification or short sale to avoid a Florida foreclosure. In Sun-Sentinel reporter Paul Owers’ blog House Keys, Owers discusses the ramifications of Broward County now requiring 10 days’ notice to cancel residential foreclosure auctions according to an administrative order signed by Broward Chief Judge Victor Tobin. […]

Could you end up in jail for not paying your bills? Is our country’s need for speed going to derail efforts to end improper loan-servicing and foreclosure practices? How do Florida’s nuclear power plants compare to those in Japan? Those are just some of the questions being asked this week from top tier business and real estate reporters around the […]

On a recent Friday morning in Miami-Dade County, Judge Maxine Cohen Lando went on the record to dress down a foreclosure mill in such a fashion that it brought chills to any lawyer who is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar. The foreclosure case was before the court because the defendant had brought a motion […]